While the Wayne Pivac era was a disappointment for most associated with Welsh rugby, Dillon Lewis was one of the few players to emerge with an enhanced reputation.
The Cardiff prop has always stood out with his work around the park but over the past 18 months his scrummaging has improved significantly. So much so the 27-year-old finds himself a primary target for several clubs across the Severn.
Lewis is out of contract at the end of the season and is one of a number of players left in limbo due to the current recruitment and retention freeze at Wales' four regions. He has previously been linked with a move to Gloucester and revealed he is still none the wiser as to where he will be playing his rugby next season.
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"I can't say a lot on it, really," Lewis told WalesOnline at the launch of the Welsh Rugby Union's new partnership deal with Glamorgan Brewing. "With regards to staying in Wales I haven't been spoken to by my club in regards to a contract yet and in regards to going over the bridge I've had interest, but I can't say more than that."
Tighthead prop has been a problem position for Wales in recent seasons due to a lack of depth behind Tomas Francis in the No. 3 shirt. While Wales' autumn campaign may have been a disaster which cost Pivac his job, Lewis was one of the few positives. He has established himself as a top-class international tighthead and is keen to keep improving.
"I spoke in the summer around my inconsistency in that area and that's something I've worked hard to get those inconsistencies out," he said. "I'd like to think that's paying off. It was an area of the game I needed to continuously work on but I do feel like it has improved over the past 12-18 months.
"It's just consistency in my set-up, my outcome and just the small details you have to work on, especially at international level. You can't have any time to switch off from that. It's just being as inconsistent as possible in what I'm trying to achieve in my personal set-up and scrummaging."
Wales kick off their Six Nations campaign in three weeks' time on February 4, with most experts backing Ireland or France as champions. But with Warren Gatland back at the helm there is renewed hope Wales can compete at the top end of the championship.
When Lewis is asked whether Wales can challenge for the title his answer was short and sharp: "Yeah, I don't see why not. We've got a fantastic squad and we've got some new coaches coming in as well so I don't see why we can't win it."
But before thinking of winning Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, Wales will have to overcome the world's number one ranked side Ireland at the Principality Stadium in their championship opener. Lewis, who has been out of action since December, says he will be fit for the start of the championship and is confident ahead of their meeting with Andy Farrell's side.
"They are in form," he said. "It's tough to say at the moment because we haven't started camp yet but we've got a fantastic squad and I believe we can beat anyone on any given day.
"I'm feeling really good and I'm ahead of schedule. I've started running and feeling fit. It's all going to plan. I will be fit for Monday at the start of camp. There'll be nothing holding me back in training."
Lewis has fond memories of making his Wales debut in 2017 against Tonga in Auckland under caretaker head coach Robin McBryde [when Gatland was on Lions duty] but the bulk of his early caps came under Gatland. He believes the work ethic which Gatland has historically instilled in his squads will help get Wales back on track during the Six Nations.
"When you go into training everyone works hard," he said. "My first couple of years with him, I was very young and inexperienced so I can't comment so much on what made him so good at the time. The work ethic that was installed in us was something I took away from it, just how hard you had to work and everyday was going to be tough. I've had a lot of good experiences under Warren and it's great to have him back."
- Dillon Lewis was speaking at the launch of the Welsh Rugby Union's new partnership with Glamorgan Brewing.
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